The Government of Ghana has taken steps to resolve transboundary issues on river pollution regarding the Tano and Bia rivers which also flows through Ivorian waters.

To this end, the Ministries of Lands and Natural Resources, Sanitation and Water resources, Defence and Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation have met a high-powered delegation from Cote D’ Ivoire, led by the Ivorian Minister for water and Forest, Hon. Laurent Tchagba.

Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor who co-chaired the meeting with the Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah informed the Ivorian delegation that there has been a lot of challenges in protecting the country’s river bodies. However, they noted that government has not relented for once as the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, keeps waging war against illegal miners in the country.

Mr Jinapor, speaking on behalf of the Defence Minister, stated that the government has also adopted a two-pronged approach to fighting illegal Mining, popularly known as galamsey which is the main source of pollution of the country’s river bodies.

The two-pronged approach which he mentioned to be law enforcement and reformation, has seen to the declaration of river bodies as redzones to mining and also authorizing the involvement of the Military on Operation Halt, an initiative geared towards ridding the rivers of illegal miners.

The lands minister further stated that although illegal mining continues to pose a threat on the country’s river bodies, he is optimistic that out of the deliberations of the meeting, they will be able to come to a firm conclusion that will help resolve the issues of water pollution in both countries. He noted that he looks forward to working closely with all stakeholders to come to grips on the matter plaguing both countries.

Addressing water pollution challenges

The Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, on her part, noted that water is very central to the well-being of people around the world and not only Ghana and Cote D’ Ivoire, therefore it is pertinent to take up the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 which advocates for clean water and sanitation for all.

She also expressed optimism that the bilateral meeting will help both countries take cognizance of the far-reaching effects of a waterless world and make concrete decisions that will help both countries and the world at large.

The leader of the Ivorian Delegation and Minister for Water and Forests, Cote D’ Ivoire in his submission, expressed his gratitude for a warm reception from all participating Ministries. He noted that the issue of water is important in the history of both countries as it binds them in one way or the other and hoped that together they will be able to confer on issues and resolve the common challenge.

Also at the Bilateral Meeting on the Ghana side were the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Lands and Forestry, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio, CEOs of the Minerals Commission and Environmental Protection Agency, Mr. Martin Ayisi and Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, respectively, the Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company, Dr. Clifford A. Braimah, the National Coordinator of the Boundary Commission, Major General Emmanuel Kotia and other officials from all Ministries present.

On the Ivorian side, were the Ambassador of Cote D’ Ivoire to Ghana, H.E Bernard Ehui-Koutoua, Defence Security Technical Coordinator of the National Border Commission of Côte D’ Ivoire, Loua Deti Cesar and other officials.

Government has over the years, made it a priority to address the impact of illegal mining on the country’s water bodies. It will be recalled that Minister for Defence, Hon Dominic Nitiwul, in the past, revealed that the fight against galamsey needed reinvigoration and Government has accordingly ramped up efforts to protect Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves from the activities of small-scale miners.

So far, the turbidity level of the Ankobra River has improved significantly and the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Mines, Hon. George Mireku Duker has noted that the return of the Ankobra River and other waterbodies to their pure status is a reflection of the strides made by government’s fight against illegal mining.